The Polestar 1 Gets an EPA Rated 52 Miles of Electric Range

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Volvo Car Group's performance brand, Polestar, shocked the industry when it came out with the Polestar 1 in 2017. The high-performance plug-in hybrid set the bar for what we could expect from the automaker and future electric cars from Volvo. With specifications like 600 horsepower, 738 pound-feet of torque, and a claimed range of 93 miles on electricity, the two-door grand tourer looked promising. Unfortunately, one major blow to the Polestar 1 just came from the EPA.

Electric Range Is Lackluster

When Polestar debuted the 1, the company touted an electric range of 93 miles. That was one of the highest figures for a plug-in hybrid on the market. The EPA managed to get its hands on a Polestar 1 for testing and gave the vehicle an estimated electric range of just 52 miles. Obviously, that's disappointing, especially with a vehicle that promised so much and wears a starting price tag of over $155,000.

With just 52 miles of all-electric range, that puts the Polestar 1 behind more affordable options like the BMW 530e and Mercedes-Benz S560e. The former has an electric range of 69 miles, while the latter can travel up to 64 miles on electricity alone. We should also point out that those two vehicles are also much more affordable than the Polestar 1. Clearly, the stunning two-door plug-in hybrid is far from having the most electric range on the market. Even models like the discontinued Chevrolet Volt could travel further on electricity with an electric range of 53 miles.

Furthermore, the Polestar 1's fuel economy isn't stellar. On electricity and gasoline, the Polestar 1 is rated by the EPA to get up to 58 MPGe, which is less than the 530e (69 MPGe) and S560e (64 MPGe). So, that figure isn't exactly class-leading either.

The Appeal's Still There

Where the Polestar 1 manages to be in the middle of those two competitors is when it comes to total range. With a total range of 470 miles, the Polestar 1 sits in the middle of the 530e (350 miles) and S560e (510 miles).

One good thing about the Polestar 1 is that its range and massive battery pack that measures in at 34 kWh means the vehicle will be eligible for the maximum $7,500 federal tax credit. If you're shopping for a $155,000 vehicle, though, we don't expect you'll need any help affording the car.

We don't see the Polestar 1's small electric range of 52 miles will hurt the car's appeal. The Polestar 1 is all about setting the standard for the automaker's future vehicles, which will all be electric. With only 1,500 units available, high-tech features, and a stunning design, the Polestar 1 is more of a halo car that sets the tone. With official numbers from the EPA, we're even more interested in seeing how the Polestar 2 stacks up against the competition like the Tesla Model 3.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods